Author's note: Naraku has his heart in his body. Sorry it took so long guys! I'm immensely sorry for the extremely long wait

Kagura stood up and glared at Byakuya. She whipped out her fan and glared at the man, loathe burning with every fiber in her heart. A lone tear fell from her cheek and she flicked it off. Now was the time to pay him back. Kagura flipped her fan and stirred the wind around Byakuya. Kouga joined in and began running so the hurricane she was making around him began to spin even faster, dirt clouded Byakuya's eyes. "Brother dearest," she cooed angrily rising from the ground and walking towards him. Byakuya tried to erect a barrier around himself and used what powers he had to latch vines onto his feet and around the ground. He wasn't going to loose his footing to that bitch of a wind witch sister of his. Byakuya quickly made a paper origami of a soldier and tried to toss it out, but the paper was ripped to shreds in the wind around. The pace of the wind only began to spin faster and faster thanks to Kouga's fast feet. By now Byakuya was having a tough time seeing. He tried to send his vines out, hoping that if they caught hold of a tree they could pull him out, but they were ripped in the harsh extremes of the wind as well. And then he saw her shadow looming before him in the hurricane of wind and dirt, her hair had begun to unravel around her face but she stood there amidst the wind, unaffected by it, and towering like something that couldn't be overcome. And that was the last thing he saw as her fan whipped out and cut through his midsection. The wind halted and he fell to the ground.

"Let her go and I will give you the jewel," growled out Sesshomaru. It was a simple order that was to be obeyed. Should this hanyou double cross Sesshomaru there would be helll to pay. Though he tried not to show it Sesshomaru was tired already, the night was wearing thin and it appeared they had spent merely minutes in the cave when really it had been hours. The cave had that affect on them, they knew not how long time passed outside of it. "Do it Naraku."

"Give me the jewel," hissed Naraku with an equally angry tone. It appeared that they were at a standstill. Neither were willing to give the other something for fear of being double crossed. Sesshomaru would never go back on his word, but Naraku would.

"Let her go first," said Sesshomaru. Seeing a way out of waiting out the standstill, Naraku looked at Kagome with a smile on his face and let go of her over the pit of souls. Sesshomaru quickly caught her, dropping the jewel onto the ground, which Naraku quickly gathered and placed in the center of his chest letting his skin envelope the jewel into where his heart was. Sesshomaru pulled Kagome to his chest loving the way her hcest moved, breathing in and out, happy to have her warm body nestled in his arms even if he were a mortal. She was safe for a moment in his arms. He ran his fingers through her hair and looked her in the eye to apologize for trading the jewel for her, "I'm sorry." Kagome touched his cheek gently, she understood too well for had he been in her place Kagome would've done the same. Before either could get up though a long tentacle swiped out and deftly pulled Kagome out of Sesshomaru's arms. Sesshomaru stood up swiftly on tired legs and roared out at Naraku, "Traitor! Let her go!" His eyes turned red and a fissure formed in the side of the mountain in that one moment, but all too soon his eyes were normal. "you lied and said you would let her go!"

"I did let her go m'lord," snickered Naraku evilly his words as twisted as his soul, "and now I've got her back. And there is nothing you can do about it." Naraku leaned forward and let a long tongue swipe out to lick Kagome's cheek. She began kicking hard and squirming in the grasp of his tentacle as he chuckled darkly. Naraku held both mikos trapped within the grasp of his tentacles. He could smell defeat already, the women reeked of low hopes. Kikyou's eyes shone with no hopes, in fact she already considered herself dead in his grasp, and was just waiting for it all to end. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru fought the demons trying to make their way towards their women. Kagome's breathing was labored. Kikyou hung limply in Naraku's clasp, had already given up readying herself to die once more. Kagome wasn't ready to give up though, she had two others depending on her, her husband and her child, though Kagome felt weak as her struggles wrought her naught. Naraku slammed her on the wall of the cave once more, as if to jar Kagome to the reality that her predicament wasn't one that she could escape. Reality was a harsh thing she needed to accept. "You aren't Kikyou. You aren't a demon nor a human. And you certainly aren't a savior," snickered Naraku cackling high inside the cave letting his laughter bounce off of the caverns back at Kagome as if poking fun at her. Everything blurred in front of Kagome's eyes as he slammed her roughly against the rock of the cave once more. Her back hurt and she cried out in pain as her back was scraped and bruised. Naraku had the jewel now in its entirety, there would be time for making wishes as soon as he killed those that had long been pests in his life. "What are you?"

"What am I?" Kagome asked herself weakly. Something inside of Kagome's heart exploded as she looked down at Sesshomaru fighting to be with her. Her mind filter to two small children she knew, Shippo and Rin, who were praying now for them to come out victorious. She closed her eyes and swore she could hear their voices as they rocked back and forth with worry for their parents. Kagome may have been wrapped in a lonely tentacle but she could feel the presence of Sango and Miroku struggling together to hang on outside of the cave. And then something happened to her, Kagome felt a tug inside of her and could feel her ears strain to catch the sound of Kagura's tears land on the dirt outside. He tricks us even now. Time passes so swiftly... I feel a tug... the moon is going away, Kagome thought to herself sensing the rise of the sun mere minutes from now and a burst of hope filled her chest. Kagome looked up into Naraku's eyes with a spark in her as she placed her hands over his tentacles.

"I am a wife," she cried a burst of pink light flowing through her and burning his tentacles sending her and Kikyou falling to the ground. Sesshomaru glanced up to see the light from Kagome and hope found its way in his heart as he heard her words and this time he fought more diligently. Kikyou stayed there lying on the ground wondering how much longer until Naraku killed them. They were both too weak to fight. Kagome stood up slowly from the ground, her legs hurting as she stood but Kagome made it a point to stand and face this beast taking a step forward one at a time. A slow pink glow began festering around her at that moment… it was a faint light but it was still something.

Kagome held her hands up and shouted, "I am a mother!" The pink tinge got more noticeable as it hit Naraku pushing him back against the wall. He let his miasma seep out from his body towards her but the pink light soaked it up and expelled it back at him. Naraku's own miasma was hurting him after being used by that pink light. The demons began to grow few in number, no longer were they popping up like daisies. Slowly Inuyasha began to feel himself turn into a mortal, for now with the sun rising he was to be a hanyou, but the caves had the reverse affect on him. At least now Inuyasha could think even more clearly and control his beast. Kagome felt the reverse affects on her body, normally she could keep up the look of a human with her demonic powers, so now in this reverse cave she could unleash her demon.

"I am a friend," she bellowed at him as the pink light exploded from her body trapping Naraku onto the wall. He couldn't move. It was as if there were chains upon his arms that wouldn't allow him to move, he was immobile like an ice figure, all but his head which jerked about wildly. Kagome's bled red and she reached forward plunging her clawed demon hands into his chest with sharp nails grazing his heart, they latched onto the appendage, and she looked at him seeing the look of fear in his eyes as her nails dug into the heart within his body. She brought her hand out to hold the beating heart, her tips covered in blood, and a sinister look upon her face as purple lines appeared on her cheeks.

"I am Kagome," she growled crushing the heart, taking the shikon no tama in her hand and placing it in her pocket now that it had been cleansed. The demons below were turned into dust and ash. Sango and Miroku felt the rope break but rather than wait for a bottomless drop landed within six inches of air. The worst of their injuries were small bruises on their rears from landing on rocks.

"Goodbye Naraku," she breathed as he shrieked and thrashed, his body slowly contorting within itself growing old and turning into ash. But before he died Naraku expelled one spell from his mouth and barked out a laugh before dying, "Escape if you can."

Sesshomaru and Inuyasha had been knocked backward and now as humans hung from the edge of their rocky bridge that was crumbling slowly.

Sesshomaru watched. As the world began to tumble around him he watched the two mikos from where he hung clutching onto the rock that was slowly decaying. Neither he nor his brother had enough strength to pull themselves up after being reduced to the level of weak mortals. And most of his strength had been used fighting the previous demons.

"Go Kagome," Sesshomaru shouted at his demon mate. She had to get out of this cavern of death. "Go! Leave me!"

As the rocks and rubble tumbled around Kagome and Kikyou, the hanyou miko stared back at Sesshomaru. The demon within her was pushed back, her eyes may have bled red, but she was still in control of her beast. With red eyes full of love, Kagome shouted, "No!" Kagome pushed herself off the wall and began running through the rocks, darting around them with her demonic speed, dodging easily the debris, not caring that she would in all probability loose her life if she stayed there any longer. A hand covered her stomach protectively with her head bent so nothing would hit her small tummy. Her fangs bit into her bottom lip at the exertion, her body was tired from going through so many transformations, but she had to save him. Kagome slid to the ledge and held out her clawed hand. Sesshomaru grabbed onto it not complaining when her nails cut him as they dug into his hand to get a firm grip. If a human had tried to hold him they would've both tumbled over, so Kagome's demon was actually welcomed at this moment even if it hurt.

"Stubborn woman," he growled.

"If I left you now I'd die," she grunted through a fanged mouth pulling up her mate with all of her strength. She jerked him up and they quickly ran, Sesshomaru with an arm draped over Kagome for strength. As he still had power in his feet to carry them both he let her lean on him in return as he pushed them forward to the cave entrance. "Wait," Kagome hissed as she looked back at Inuyasha who was clutching desperately onto the cavern floor. Her demon eyes could see clearly Inuyasha's human nails digging into the earth and a face of pure strain show from the effort he was exerting to hang on.

"Kikyou! Help me," Inuyasha called out to his love thinking that she was like Kagome, they had to be alike, Kagome was the reincarnation of Kikyou after all. If Kagome would save Sesshomaru, Kikyou would save him. He clung to the cliff and held out a hand towards the woman he loved, calling out once more, "Help me! Please!" Kikyou looked at the hanyou and at the debris falling around her, her eyes wide with fear, she knew she couldn't make it. And Kikyou made her decision not being able to lock eyes with the one she had so ardently loved and cared for. She called out, "I can't," and then fled through the side of the cave running.

That was when the truth hit Inuyasha, finally. Kikyou wasn't anything like Kagome. Tears formed in Inuyasha's eyes as he stared at her retreating figure. Kagome leaned forward wanting to go and try and save Inuyasha but Sesshomaru pulled her back. Inuyasha locked gazes with Kagome and swallowed his tears though his heart was breaking. Inuyasha was hurt as he realized that his brother had been right. Not only had Kagome not been a copy of Kikyou, not only was she stronger, not only did she love someone fully… but he, Inuyasha, had chosen the wrong woman. Kagome was her own person.

"I'm sorry Kagome… Run you stupid wench! Run," he yelled at the top of his lungs as he used what force he had to push off and fall into the abyss.

They ran. Kagome held onto Sesshomaru as he held onto her for dear life. Both united as a whole as they ran out of the cave of the mountains, breathing with relief as they lunged forward out into the open air, and they watched as the mountains tumbled behind them. As the mountain began to tumble behind them Sesshomaru was restored to his demon state as was Kagome, their scratches and wounds healing slowly with their powers. His hair went from the dark black it had been to its white sheen once more. Kagome looked up, her eyes flashed red in anger that flooded through her when she saw Kikyou before they returned to their normal hue. Though in that moment of heated anger Kagome notched an arrow and shot it attaching Kikyou to a nearby tree so that she wouldn't escape from them. With the last of her energy Kagome and Sesshomaru fell to the ground breathing deeply in the fresh air.

When the mountains were gone, Sesshomaru got up slowly and reached down pulling Kagome up. She smiled softly, eyes filled with tears at sadness for Inuyasha and happiness for herself. How awful it was for her to be happy in such a moment when a friend had died just moments before. But Kagome couldn't help it as she looked into Sesshomaru's face glad that they were both alive as the sunrise began to show itself in the red hues of the new morning. And then Kagome caught movement behind Sesshomaru. The demon lord didn't notice any movement for his guard was down as he took in the sight of the one he loved, thankful that they both had made it out alive. Kagome pushed Sesshomaru throwing herself in front of him and received the full impact of Byakuya's blade. "I won't have died in vain," the final detachment of Naraku said before falling to the ground dead and disappearing into the earth.

Kagome's eyes swam with tears as a bitter smile rose to her face, she reached down and grunted as she pulled out the sword, a scream came out of her mouth as she dropped it to the ground watching the sword clatter with a metallic clang, Kagome looked down at her hands covered in her own blood coming out from the wound in her chest. She fell backwards and was caught by Sesshomaru.

"Kagome," he breathed holding her close before lying her on the ground and pulling his sword out ready to kill the pallbearers. But none appeared around her… meaning it was her time to die. "No! You can't have her," he shouted to the sky as he fell to his knees crying beside her. Kagome's body began to shake in his arms as he clutched her close. Sesshomaru was at a loss for what to do and his mind swam with ideas trying to find any, but he knew there were none if his sword would not work. Kagome closed her eyes for a moment remembering the voice that had once come to her. Knowing that she could do nothing now to save herself. Kagome had made her decision.

Flashback

One day soon your human life will die. When that happens your husband can never use his sword on you. Are you willing to risk that?

Will my pups live?

Yes.

Do it. Give me the power to bring him back.

End Flashback

"You can still save the children. Our pups," she breathed out quietly, her face was becoming paler with each moment. He could smell something he didn't like hovering over Kagome the scent of near death was trying to coat her skin as her moments began to dwindle down. "She promised."

"Who?"

"Midoriko," she answered voicing the woman who had been talking to her inside her head. "She said they can still survive," Kagome whispered as Sesshomaru's hands traced her face as Kagome smiled weakly up at her mate.

"I will save them, Kagome," he answerd her knowing that he could do that for his mate if he couldn't do anything else. Life was so cruel. He had only gotten Kagome to lose her so soon. Anger and sorrow swam through him as he growled out, "Why couldn't you let me get hurt Kagome? That was foolish to do."

"Only fools fall in love," she whispered reaching out to touch his face with her bloodied fingers, he leaned forward and kissed those fingers dappled with her blood. Quiet tears fell down his face at the answer Kagome gave him, and he knew that should she die a part of him would as well. If Kagome didn't survive he would raise the children, but a part of him would always be missing. She was his world. Kikyou struggled against the arrow and felt numb tears that she hadn't felt in so long fall down her face when she noticed what was transpiring before her. As part of Kagome she knew what was happening. She'd seen death before and was now facing it as the arrow slowly binded her to the tree sucking away her energy. All but the last part of her that wasn't entirely Kikyou.

Inuyasha is dead and I'm not far behind. I have nothing left to live for now that Naraku is defeated and Inuyasha is gone, thought Kikyou. Can I give her the happy ending I can't have?… Maybe if I do so I won't end up in hell. But better to be there with Inuyasha than without him. I hope she never makes the same mistake I made and doesn't take this for granted.

"The pole bearers won't appear because she isn't a whole soul, but, if it were whole and you tried to save her she can't come back… human," said Kikyou slowly, her breathing was as ragged as Kagome's, in this one moment they were equal. Kikyou locked eyes with Sesshomaru. "Human," she murmured again making a point for him to catch her meaning before Kikyou cried out in pain, "Kagome I relinquish your soul!" A blinding light engulfed Kikyou still attached to the tree.

Kagome nodded, her lip trembling as Kikyou said, "I'm sorry Kagome." I claim my soul, Kagome thought to herself keeping her eyes transfixed on Kikyou's. And just like that a bright light swam from Kikyou's chest and shot out into Kagome's arm, trailing through her shoulders, and settled in Kagome's own chest. She felt whole for a moment and breathed in deeply what was to be her last long breath of air for death was about ready to snatch her from the world. Kikyou's body fell over, she got out two words before her life passed into nothing and her body crumbled, "Now Sesshomaru!"

Sesshomaru needed little encouragement as he brought his sword out seeing the pallbearers, the sword went right through them, and severed the demonic little beasts of the netherworld that had been bent on the pursuit of taking Kagome with them.

To be continued...